Borgo di Bucciano and San Miniato: The setting is superb within beautiful countryside with views of soft hills near vineyards, fields of sunflowers, olive groves and farmers working in their fields. Bucciano offers a very good base as it is central for touring all Tuscany, good communications for reaching a variety of holiday destinations and convenient for days out and Tuscan adventures! Several interesting villages nearby - Peccioli, bar/pasticceria/enoteca, Montaione with a superb alimentari, small bar and newsagent - and restaurants. 7km from San Miniato - a small gem, for the castle remains and fine views and its medieval treasures. There is usually a market in town every Tuesday, nearby San Miniato Basso has a Thursday market and station to Florence.
San Miniato was founded by the Etruscans, the most powerful civilisation in pre-Roman Italy, who gave Tuscany its name. On his way home from Pisa, St Francis of Assisi travelled to the top of the San Miniato hill and founded the historic Convent in 1211.
San Miniato contd, Lucca and the Coast: More... It was a town full of intrigue, battles, politics and power - variously ruled by France, Florence and even Spain. Now there is a slower pace of life. As much of Tuscany, still predominantly rural with fertile soil and a temperate climate. Napoleonic connections.
Visit Lucca for sightseeing & elegant shopping within a preserved 16th century fortress city - only 35 minutes away. One of the most beautiful and elegant cities in Tuscany, Lucca has exquisite shops and restaurants, a weekly market & a special monthly antiques market. Hire good bicycles to ride around its famous walls, from where the historic old town can be seen inside, with Art Deco buildings and newer town outside. Lucca is mainly for pedestrians. Most visitors return.
San Gimignano is a must!
The famous coastal resorts of Viareggio and the more select Forte dei Marmi, are just to the west of Lucca, on the coast - beach, sunbathing and pleasant walking. Viareggio has a famous carnival in February
Florence, Siena, and the Coast: and more...
The Coast - Viareggio, Forte dei Marmi 45 minutes.
Florence - 40 minutes - Visit the main piazza with its Duomo and Baptistry; the galleries, shops and markets. Cross the Ponte Vecchio and walk along the Arno.
Visit nearby Fiesole - it's cooler in the heat of the summer.
Visit Siena - for its semi-circular piazza with a tall tower overlooking the Palio horse racing - 60 minutes. The drive itself is interesting.
All Tuscany can be visited from San Miniato - trains to Florence 25 minutes!
With an early start, Umbria can be visited - it is interesting to compare the two.
Certaldo and Leonardo's birthplace of Vinci is 20 minutes away and the nearby museum has scale models of his inventions. Very interesting!
The area around San Miniato is lovely and Casa Lucia is an excellent base - Beautiful in Spring; glorious in summer; bright and warm days in autumn; cosy in winter. Just come...
Golf - there are many excellent golf courses in Tuscany. Ask for details.
